Archibald R. Craig passed away on May 1, 2008 at Kingston Hospital in Kingston, N.Y., surrounded by his loving family and friends.
Arch was born on April 8, 1929 in North Hebron, the son of Archibald Nelson and Lillian (Fleming) Craig. On October 29, 1949, he married the love of his life, Pauline (Polly) Francis Jenkins.
Arch led an amazing and diverse life. He graduated from Granville High School in 1946. Arch did farming for a while, as well as short employment at Telescope Casual Furniture. Following that, he owned and operated a poultry farm and sawmill. In addition to sawmill duties, he created rustic furniture. In the early 1970s, Arch went to work selling real estate for the late John Andrus. After learning the ropes he opened and ran his own real estate business with his wife Polly. He obtained the GRI designation.
Arch served the community of Hebron as a leader for many years. He served on the Town Board as well as having served as Supervisor of the Town of Hebron. He was a member and elder of the East Hebron United Presbyterian Church, the East Hebron Grange, the DeMolay, a former member of the Salem Rotary Club, a founding member of the Hebron Preservation Society. He was honored with the Community Service Award from the General John Williams Chapter of the DAR in Salem. Arch was an inspiration to all and influenced the lives of many people. He was a great listener and an even better advisor. In his “free” time, Arch enjoyed playing the bagpipes, reading, and woodworking. He had a particular interest in old cars. In the past 14 years, Arch cared tirelessly for his wife Polly. They enjoyed many trips to Scotties in Granville, where they ate most of their meals with their many friends there. Their dear friends Aileen A. Murauskos, Heidi Mayo, Heidi Dybas, Simmons Henderson and Sandra Buxton aided Arch in his wife’s care. Those very same dear friends pledged their assistance to Arch as well, had he been able to return to his home.
Arch was predeceased by his wife Polly, a sister Patricia C. Parmeter and a brother-in-law Harold Jenkins. Survivors are his two daughters: Deborah Craig and Dorothea Casey and her husband George, all of Greenwich, a brother, Harold Craig and his wife, Drucille, of North Hebron, and a sister, Jane Watrous, and her husband, Ivan, of Hebron, a brother in law, John Parmeter, of Malone, N.Y. and a sister-in-law, Eleanor Jenkins of Malta, NY. Also surviving are a grandson, Michael, a niece and several nephews and their spouses.
Friends called on Monday, May 5, at the Robert M. King Funeral Home at 23 Church St. in Granville, and from 6 to 7 p.m. at the East Hebron United Presbyterian Church with a funeral service at 7 p.m.. Friends and family attended the burial on Tuesday, May 6, at the East Hebron Cemetery.
A scholarship is being instituted at the Granville High School in Arch’s name for a Granville graduate who is attending college to major in History.
